Syngas Production and Losses Encountered in Gasification of Rice Husks

Ethel D. Kasembe¹, Zacharia M. Mganilwa¹, Zacharia M. Mganilwa¹, Geoffrey R. John², Cuthbert F. Mhilu²

¹Department of Transport and Engineering Technology, National Institute of Transport, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
²College of Engineering and Technology, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

DOI: 10.4236/jpee.2015.34057                

Abstract

This paper addresses the syngas production and evaluation losses in high temperature gasification process using coffee husks. A fast and inexpensive way to evaluate the losses in gasification processes is by the application mathematical models which allow to predict the values needed in full scale. Hence, the quantification of gasifier’s losses at temperatures ranges of 800 K - 1400 K at an equivalence ratios of 0.3, 0.35 and 0.4 at 1 bar are revealed by using exergy model incorporating a chemical equilibrium model. The model evaluated the product syngas compositions, syngas heating values and degree of irreversibility values (losses). The results from the model showed that the production of H₂ increased from 9.9% to 18.9% and the formation of CO₂ ranges from 7.2% to 12.3%. CO production is from 21.8% to 17.2%. The irreversibility values obtained were less than 27%. Hence, reduction of losses protracts biomass resources to be used in energy generation.

Keywords

Coffee Husks, Equivalence Ratio, Exergy, Gasification, Irreversibility (Losses)

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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